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Vic Miles, Former NYC TV Anchorman, 79
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A Friend
Oct 14, 2011, 11:01:14 PM10/14/11
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From mediabistro.com:
Remembering 'One of a Kind' WCBS/Channel 2 Anchorman Vic Miles
By Jerry Barmash on October 13, 2011 6:19 PM
For a quarter-century, Vic Miles was a steady rock at WCBS/Channel 2.
His delivery was simple, not flourishing. His looks weren't of a
matinee idol; he appeared at times to have a suit too big for his
slender build. Miles was a newsman, whether in the field or at the
anchor desk.
Miles' son Vincent Levy confirms to FishbowlNY that his father died
last night. Miles, who had been in declining health, was hospitalized
Saturday in New York. He was 79.
"I think he liked reporting a lot, because he was naturally suited to
it," former WCBS anchor Carol Martin recalls.
Martin had 20-year career with WCBS, so she got to know Miles very
well. Before anchoring the evening newscasts, Martin, who started at
Channel 2 in 1975, was the late-night street reporter.
"I was the rookieŠ [and] Vic was always just somebody who was generous
with his time and advice," Martin tells FishbowlNY. "He wasn't somebody
that you stood back and said, 'I better not bother Mr. Miles.'"
Current Channel 2 anchor Dana Tyler echoed the same sentiment for her
longtime cohort.
"When I started at Channel 2 News 21 years ago, I was in awe of Vic.
This veteran reporter and anchor welcomed me here; he was kind, smart
and so real and we all learned from him," Tyler recalls. "He could
cover any story and he made it all seem effortless."
Miles started at WCBS in 1971 and stayed through various managements
until 1995. Along with Tyler, his career overlapped with reporter John
Slattery, with the station since 1984.
"Vic was a consummate professional, anchoring the weekend news
broadcasts, and giving viewers an 'up close' view of the city he loved
through his Our Block features, which won many awards," Slattery says.
"But mostly, Vic won the hearts of those who knew him by offering
friendship and sound advice. God bless my old buddy, Vic."
As with Slattery, and millions of viewers, Miles' Our Block series
impacted Tyler.
"He connected with people with such ease taking us all over New York.
He set the bar high giving us insight as his stories jumped through the
screen and into our hearts and minds. Vic Miles was truly one of a
kind," Tyler says.
Martin cites an important reason that Miles rose to become a top notch
anchor and reporter for so many years.
"He was an excellent writer, really had an affinity for the word, at a
time when it mattered more," Martin says.
Miles was known for many years as the weekend anchor. However, when
Dave Marash left Channel 2 in 1978, it was Miles who joined Rolland
Smith at the anchor desk for a year (see video below).
"He was a delight as a co-anchor because I knew he did his homework,"
Smith says. "So you weren't left out there if you needed help."
Smith, who anchored at WCBS from 1970 to 1986, says Miles ascension to
weeknight anchor was groundbreaking.
"I don't think there was a black anchor Šin the chair Monday through
Friday that I can recall," Smith says.
In an era when the black anchor was rare even in the progressive North,
Miles perserved, although he received some scrutiny.
New York magazine in the late 1970s did a piece about the city's Black
Establishment: A Guide for 1979. Under the category of Newspeople there
were three TV personalities: Gil Noble, the WABC/Channel 7 Like It Is
giant (Noble suffered a severe stroke during the summer ending his long
running public affairs program), Melba Tolliver with WNBC/Channel 4 at
the time and previously at WABC‹and Vic Miles.
The article says that Miles "rarely moves in the established black
circles and is often criticized for his aloofness and non-involvement."
"He was very good at the role he played," Martin says. "My sense of him
was that he understood that."
While his on-camera persona did not cross racial lines, Miles was not
totally disconnected from people of color.
"He once taught me something that I hadn't realized. In a black
community, when someone dies in a tragic sort of way, until they get
interviewed on television and/or radio, there is little validation for
that person's life," Smith says.
Smith, a veteran anchor in his own right, had a successful 16-year run
at WCBS.
"[Miles] was a solid, professional anchor," Smith remembers. "He knew
his stuff, particularly in the field. He was a very good field
reporter."
Prior to the Smith/Miles nightly partnership, Martin was hired. During
her 20 years at Channel 2 she spent many times with her good friend.
"He was a touchstone for me," Martin says. "He had extraordinary
character and integrity."
Mike Schneider, an anchor at WCBS from 1986 to 1989, also has fond
recollections of his former colleague.
"Vic was that rare combination of a real pro and a true gentleman,"
Schneider says. "[He was] an outstanding figure and a pleasure to work
with."
It would appear that the phrase "what you see is what you get" was
written for Miles.
"In person, he was a quiet, dignified, professional journalist," Smith
recalls.
Miles is survived by his three children, two step-children, and his
wife, Karen Levy.
Plans are for the veteran anchor to be cremated. Memorial services are
pending.
<http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/?p=44789>
Remembering 'One of a Kind' WCBS/Channel 2 Anchorman Vic Miles
By Jerry Barmash on October 13, 2011 6:19 PM
For a quarter-century, Vic Miles was a steady rock at WCBS/Channel 2.
His delivery was simple, not flourishing. His looks weren't of a
matinee idol; he appeared at times to have a suit too big for his
slender build. Miles was a newsman, whether in the field or at the
anchor desk.
Miles' son Vincent Levy confirms to FishbowlNY that his father died
last night. Miles, who had been in declining health, was hospitalized
Saturday in New York. He was 79.
"I think he liked reporting a lot, because he was naturally suited to
it," former WCBS anchor Carol Martin recalls.
Martin had 20-year career with WCBS, so she got to know Miles very
well. Before anchoring the evening newscasts, Martin, who started at
Channel 2 in 1975, was the late-night street reporter.
"I was the rookieŠ [and] Vic was always just somebody who was generous
with his time and advice," Martin tells FishbowlNY. "He wasn't somebody
that you stood back and said, 'I better not bother Mr. Miles.'"
Current Channel 2 anchor Dana Tyler echoed the same sentiment for her
longtime cohort.
"When I started at Channel 2 News 21 years ago, I was in awe of Vic.
This veteran reporter and anchor welcomed me here; he was kind, smart
and so real and we all learned from him," Tyler recalls. "He could
cover any story and he made it all seem effortless."
Miles started at WCBS in 1971 and stayed through various managements
until 1995. Along with Tyler, his career overlapped with reporter John
Slattery, with the station since 1984.
"Vic was a consummate professional, anchoring the weekend news
broadcasts, and giving viewers an 'up close' view of the city he loved
through his Our Block features, which won many awards," Slattery says.
"But mostly, Vic won the hearts of those who knew him by offering
friendship and sound advice. God bless my old buddy, Vic."
As with Slattery, and millions of viewers, Miles' Our Block series
impacted Tyler.
"He connected with people with such ease taking us all over New York.
He set the bar high giving us insight as his stories jumped through the
screen and into our hearts and minds. Vic Miles was truly one of a
kind," Tyler says.
Martin cites an important reason that Miles rose to become a top notch
anchor and reporter for so many years.
"He was an excellent writer, really had an affinity for the word, at a
time when it mattered more," Martin says.
Miles was known for many years as the weekend anchor. However, when
Dave Marash left Channel 2 in 1978, it was Miles who joined Rolland
Smith at the anchor desk for a year (see video below).
"He was a delight as a co-anchor because I knew he did his homework,"
Smith says. "So you weren't left out there if you needed help."
Smith, who anchored at WCBS from 1970 to 1986, says Miles ascension to
weeknight anchor was groundbreaking.
"I don't think there was a black anchor Šin the chair Monday through
Friday that I can recall," Smith says.
In an era when the black anchor was rare even in the progressive North,
Miles perserved, although he received some scrutiny.
New York magazine in the late 1970s did a piece about the city's Black
Establishment: A Guide for 1979. Under the category of Newspeople there
were three TV personalities: Gil Noble, the WABC/Channel 7 Like It Is
giant (Noble suffered a severe stroke during the summer ending his long
running public affairs program), Melba Tolliver with WNBC/Channel 4 at
the time and previously at WABC‹and Vic Miles.
The article says that Miles "rarely moves in the established black
circles and is often criticized for his aloofness and non-involvement."
"He was very good at the role he played," Martin says. "My sense of him
was that he understood that."
While his on-camera persona did not cross racial lines, Miles was not
totally disconnected from people of color.
"He once taught me something that I hadn't realized. In a black
community, when someone dies in a tragic sort of way, until they get
interviewed on television and/or radio, there is little validation for
that person's life," Smith says.
Smith, a veteran anchor in his own right, had a successful 16-year run
at WCBS.
"[Miles] was a solid, professional anchor," Smith remembers. "He knew
his stuff, particularly in the field. He was a very good field
reporter."
Prior to the Smith/Miles nightly partnership, Martin was hired. During
her 20 years at Channel 2 she spent many times with her good friend.
"He was a touchstone for me," Martin says. "He had extraordinary
character and integrity."
Mike Schneider, an anchor at WCBS from 1986 to 1989, also has fond
recollections of his former colleague.
"Vic was that rare combination of a real pro and a true gentleman,"
Schneider says. "[He was] an outstanding figure and a pleasure to work
with."
It would appear that the phrase "what you see is what you get" was
written for Miles.
"In person, he was a quiet, dignified, professional journalist," Smith
recalls.
Miles is survived by his three children, two step-children, and his
wife, Karen Levy.
Plans are for the veteran anchor to be cremated. Memorial services are
pending.
<http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/?p=44789>
Hyfler/Rosner
Oct 15, 2011, 10:59:06 AM10/15/11
to
On 10/14/11 11:01 PM, A Friend wrote:
> From mediabistro.com:
>
> Remembering 'One of a Kind' WCBS/Channel 2 Anchorman Vic Miles
>
> By Jerry Barmash on October 13, 2011 6:19 PM
>
> For a quarter-century, Vic Miles was a steady rock at WCBS/Channel 2.
> His delivery was simple, not flourishing. His looks weren't of a
> matinee idol; he appeared at times to have a suit too big for his
> slender build. Miles was a newsman, whether in the field or at the
> anchor desk.
And Jewish! (He was black.) I learn this from the New York Times
> From mediabistro.com:
>
> Remembering 'One of a Kind' WCBS/Channel 2 Anchorman Vic Miles
>
> By Jerry Barmash on October 13, 2011 6:19 PM
>
> For a quarter-century, Vic Miles was a steady rock at WCBS/Channel 2.
> His delivery was simple, not flourishing. His looks weren't of a
> matinee idol; he appeared at times to have a suit too big for his
> slender build. Miles was a newsman, whether in the field or at the
> anchor desk.
obituary today.
I loved Vic Miles. We all did.
peterpuck86
Oct 16, 2011, 8:52:29 PM10/16/11
to
post, someone used the term "consummate professional")
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